Door lock having a sliding bolt



Dec. 7, 1954 E, UHER 2,696,099

DOOR LOCK HAVING A SLIDING BOLT Filed Jan. 3l, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Inven'or.'

United kStates Patent DOOR LOCK HAVING A SLIDING BOLT Edmond Uher, Paris, France Application'anuary 31, 1951, Serial No. 208,719

Claims priority, application France February 7, 1950 2 Claims. (Cl. 70-134) The invention relates to improvements in door locks having a sliding bolt and the main object of the invention is to provide a device which, when applied to the sliding bolt, will automatically lock the sliding bolt in any of its unlocking or locking positions.

With the above object in View, the invention consists essentially in a sliding bolt having a stem acting as a rack, a cylindrical casing adapted to be mounted within the door with its axis parallel to the edge of the latter and comprising a lateral arm spaced from the casing extending in a direction substantially parallel to the axis thereof whereby said stem is to be engaged, and a rotatable bolt operating member coaxial with said casing and comprising a bolt driving pin and a bolt locking member both adapted to cooperate with said rack in such a manner that when said bolt operating member is rotated, the said stem is given a translation displacement by said pin while pressure on the bolt will not cause any rotation of said bolt operating member as long as the bolt is in any of its unlocking or locking positions, the parts being arranged and constructed to form a door lock which, when installed, can be positively relied upon for the purposes which it is provided.

A further object of the invention is to provide a double door lock comprising a key operated sliding bolt of the above described type, said lock consisting essentially of two coaxial cylindrical casings interconnected by means ,Y

of the above mentioned lateral arm, each cylindrical casing being adapted to contain a bolt operating member so as to transmit rotary motion of the key to said last mentioned member.

It will be easily understood that a lock according to the invention requires no casing and may be mounted in a door or the like in a very simple and rapid manner. This requires only the following steps: drilling in the door or the like, a hole parallel to the edge of the door and having a cross-section corresponding to that of the above mentioned cylindrical casing, introducing the latter into said hole, drilling in the door edge a second hole at right-angles to the first one having the same crosssection as the above mentioned stem of the sliding bolt and so located that the rack of the stem can be engaged, after the latter has been introduced into said second hole, between the lateral arm of the cylindrical casingand the bolt operating member, said rack being brought vat the same time into mesh with the bolt locking member, and securing on the door edge a small metal plate provided with a hole having the same cross-section as the bolt so that the bolt is guided by means of two metal parts, viz. said small plate and the above mentioned lateral arm of the cylindrical casing.

On the other hand, independently of its simple construction and very low cost due to the limited number of constituting parts and to the absence of the usual lock casing, a'lock according to the invention is difficult if not impossible to pick since it is impossible to exert a torsional stress on the rotary bolt operating member of the klock by imparting to the above mentioned stem a translation displacement, e. g. after having drilled a hole in thedoor, since it is also impossible to withdraw the cylindrical casing from the door as long as the bolt has not been removed, due to the cross connection between said stem and cylindrical casing, and since the relative arrangement of the stem and the bolt operating member suppresses any clearance between them and thusany possibility of intromember. Y,

. ducing a tool to release the rack from the bolt locking ICC Now, in certain cases, and particularly for bank or hotel safes, to increase the safety, it is advisable to use a system in which the bolt is controlled from at least two dilerent locks, each of which requires the use of an individual key. Such an arrangement requires the presence of the two persons possessing the keys, when the safe is to be opened. ln banks or hotels, it is also convenient, that the combination of at least one of the locks corresponding to the key possessed by a certain client may be changed later so that when the safe is used by a new client, the latter may be given a key differing from that of the former client.

It will be easily understood that, with the device according to the invention, when a given rotary cylinder lock is to be replaced by another one having a different combination, it suffices, after having opened the door of the safe, to remove the bolt by a movement of translation which may be caused by acting upon the rotary bolt operating member which has the driving pin whereupon any cylindrical casing may be removed and immediately replaced by another one without using any tool.

The invention will be best understood with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which two embodiments thereof are shown as a mere illustration.

. ln these drawings:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a two-cylinder lock according to the invention.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same lock in the longitudinal axial plane of the bolt.

Fig. 3 is a section of the lock along the common 1ongitudinal axis of the lock cylinders.

Figs. 4 to 7 are detail views showing the construction of the web.

Figs. 8 to l0 are detail views of the double stirrup keying member provided to make the web rotatively fast with either one of the inner cylinders of the lock.

Fig. ll is a cross-section of another embodiment showing the door of a safe carrying a block adapted to receive a plurality of cylinders and one bolt.

Fig. l2 is a longitudinal section of said block in a plane containing axis A-B of Fig. ll.

Fig. 13 is an explanatory view of the operation of the system shown in Figs. ll and l2.

Fig. 14 is a section in a plane containing axis C-D of Fig. l2 and Fig. l5 is a View of the block with the cylinders and bolt removed, taken in the direction of arrow F of Fig. ll.

ln all figures, the same numeral references have been given to the corresponding parts.

Referring first to Figs. l to 10, there is shown a lock of the type comprising two similar co-axial cylindrical casings 4 and 5 interconnected by a lateral arm 3 extending spaced from said casings in a direction substantially parallel to the axis thereof, the stem of the bolt being located in the mid-,transverse plane of the double lock and portion 10a of said stem, which acts as a rack, being engaged in the space surrounded by the arm 3. The cylindrical casings 4 and 5 are adapted to receive conventional rotary cylinder locks (not shown) which may be maintained in place by means of separate cap members l and 2, respectively, assembled with the casings 4 and 5 by means of dove-tail lugs and notches l2. A common bolt operating web 6 interposed between the adjacent ends of the two casings 4 and 5 is adapted to be selectively made rotatively fast with the inner cylinder of either of aid rotary cylindrical locks and to cooperate with rack Rack 10a is formed in a bar 10, on either side of which are secured two members 8 and 9 symmetrically disposed with respect to bar 10 and provided to make said bar more rigid, to guide the same and to continuously obstruct space 7. The free end of this three-bar assembly constitutes the bolt proper.

Both members 8 and 9 are provided with a cut-out portion 13 in that part thereof which is to be engaged into space 7, between the lateral arm 3 and the web. There is thus no clearance which would otherwise permit introducing a tool through a hole drilled for this purpose in the door between the web and lateral arm with a view to release the bolt.

Portion 10a carries a developed star-wheel profile and isso shaped that said prole may be engaged into the groove provided for-this purpose in web 6. lThis yassembly is completed by a safety plate 14 which is provided with an opening 15 having the same cross-section as the bolt Land intended `to besecured byscrewing through la vcentral stud llhaving .the shape .of .a cylinder provided with a latportion 19, and with apin '26 located near lthe periphery :of web .6 and having ayiindrical shape. one of the three abovementioned positions Vand .pin 2t) is adapted to shi'ftu-the boltfrom leither of said positions `to vthe next one. ln the position shown, thecentral .stud

1,8 is engaged in the middle tooth17sand therefore locks the bolt in its simplelocking position.

Astthe web rotates, stud 18 rotates yiirst within the arcuate end surface of tooth 17 and the :bolt remains stationary. Then pin 2t) is brought into one of the spaces 21 while the iiat portion 19 of stud 18l is brought in front of tooth 17, so that said tooth is released lfrom stud 18 and so that pin 20, which now engagesthe corresponding space 21 may freely displace the bolt to bring the same into either of the two other positions in which another tooth 17 is located in register with stud l; as the web further 'rotates,fpin 20 disengages'frorn space 21 While the cylindrical portion of stud ISA-locks the bolt anew, by engaging the arcuate end surface lof said other tooth 17. The key may be withdrawnV from the lock only in the angular positionl of pin '23, shown in Fig. 2, i. e. when the bolt is locked in either of the three positions by means of stud '18. Therefore, it is impossible to open the bolt by acting upon the same in a longitudinal direction whatever may be the stress .applied for this purpose, since the off-setpin 26) controlling the bolt is normally completelyreleasedromthe'rack, thelatter meshing only with ya smooth cylindricall member co-axial with the lock.

As shown in Figs. 4 to 7, web A6 is constituted by two dishes 22 and 23 soldered together atA their bottoms; said bottoms are each provided with a stamped segment 25 and with -a stamped annular groove 26, the normal portion '27 constituting after soldering the control pin 20 while the central normal portion 18u constitutes, after soldering, the bolt locking stud 1S; this arrangement permits engaging the developed star-wheel profile 10a into groove 26 `as explained above. T-he ylock is secured on the door by means of two disc-likeplates 28 provided with suitable holes 29.

The keying ot the web with the inner cylinder'(not shown) of either rotary cylinder lock may be effected by any known means, e. g., by means of the'special keying member shown in Figs. 8 to l0. Said keying member is constituted by two stirrup elements 67 assembled by their bases by means of a double head pin 68. The base of each stirrup element has the samecrosssection as a rectangular opening 3i) cut out'in the cornmon bottom of dishes 22--23 and centered on the longitudinal axis of the lock, .so that one element 67 can be `engaged into said opening only when located in a welldened angular position around the axisv of` pin '63. The arms of the stirrup elements are preferably folded .outwardly as shown in 69 in a plane parallel to their bases. The size, taken along a direction parallel to the axis of the lock, of these portions of the stirrup arms which are intended to slide in opening 3i) is equal to or slightly greater than the thickness of the common vbottom of dishes 22-23 of the web. Thus, whenone element 67 is fully engaged into Aopening 30 the other element 67 is freely pivoted about pin 68. The arms of each fstirrup are continuously fast with one of the lock innery cylinders. Thus, in the case just described, if one element67 is fully engaged into opening 3E),- e. gow-hen 4the vkey is introduced into the lock, said element 67 makes the corresponding inner cylinder vfast -wit-h the web-wl'rile'due to the fact that the other element 67 Stud `18 :isadapted -to lock the bolt in each and 37.

`having the same curvature as stud 44 of web .42.

then freely rotates about pin 68, the other inner cylinder is released from ysaid web.

Referring now to Figs. .ll to l5, there is shown at 31 a metal block. in which are provided two bores 32 and 34, respectively, opened at both ends and prolonged, only along a portion of the thickness of the block, through grooves 33 and 35 radially disposed with respect to bores 32 and 34 respectively and communicating therewith. The lock cylinders 36 and 37 are mounted in block 3l by an axial displacement taking place from the rear of the block inthe direction of arrow F of Fig. ll, lateral arms 36 and 40, respectively, of cylinders 36 and 37 being engaged into grooves 33 and 3S respectively, which prevents `the cylinders from rotating in block 3i. Each cylinder lock comprises a web, 4l and 42 respectively, which, after the correspondingukey has been introduced into the lock, may be rotated by the inner cylinder. The two webs 41 and 42 each comprises an axial stud, 18 and `4M respectively, having a generally :cylindrical shape and co-axial with ythe correspondingcylinder, and each of which comprises a ilat portion, 19 and `46 respectively. Web41 of cylinder 36 is 4moreover provided with an off-set cylindrical control pin 2d. Block 31 comprises, independently of bor-es 32 and 34, a slot 4S located in a plane normal to the axes of cylinders 36 In said slot is slidably mounted a stern 49, the thickness of which lis substantially equal yto that of slot'48 -and the outer end of which constitutes a bolt. Said stem carries a developed star-wheel rack, the thickness of the same-being equal to the axial size of the web groove, i. e. to the distance between discs 45. The curvature radius of the concave end surface of teeth 17 and 17a is equal to the radius of stud 1S of web 41. The space 21 between these two teeth has such a width that when web 41 rotates, pin 2i) may be engaged into said space. The rack comprises moreover a tooth 1gb i e distance between the mid-planes of teeth 17a and 17h is equal to the distance between the axes of cylinders 36 and 37. In the'position of the cylinder webs shown in Fig. l2, bolt 49 is locked by both cylinders since both studs '18 Iand 44 are engaged into the rounded portions of the teeth 17a and ib respectively.

For displacing bolt 49, i. e., in the Vexample shown, for bringing the same into its retracted position, it is rst 'necessary to rotate the rotary cylinder stud 44 by By this rotation, see Fig. y13, the flat portion 46 is brought into Va position in which it is released fromV .tooth 17b so thatthe sameV is free to move. Then, by rotating the inner cylinder of the cylinder lock 36 by means. of the corresponding key, bolt 49 can be displaced towards `the right (referring to the drawings), pin 20 beingrstengaged into space 21, while the ilat portion 19 releases `tooth 17a from central stud 18.

The'bolt '49 is then locked once more in the new position into which` it has .been brought since stud 18, after having been further rotated by 180, has its curved porion engaging the end surface of tooth 17 of the rac In Fig. vll is shown an embodiment of a safe door using the lock with two parallel cylinders which has just been described. As shown in this iigure, block `31 is secured on door 54 ofthe safe Uby rmeans of screws through holes 56 (see Fig. 15). Door 5ft is provided with a flange 57 used for ,guiding bolt 49 and ensuring, moreover, inthe locking position shown in Fig. 1l, a

`direct link between door 54 and the stationary wall 55 of the safe. Door S4 is articulated on Wall 55a by being pivoted around an axis 58.

If desired, one or both cylinder locks may be replaced 'by opening the door, `bringing the rotary cylinder of cylinder lock 37 into the position in Fig. 13 in which the rack is vfree to move and then rotating the rotary cylinder .36 clockwise, by 36C", thanks to which first tooth 17a andthen tooth 1'7b may be displaced towards the left by such a distance that the rack is completely released of both webs and may be entirely removed.

@nce vthe -bolt is withdrawn from block 31, both cylinder locks are released and may be withdrawn axially through the rear face of the block by a displacement in the `direction opposite to arrow F of Fig. 1l. lt then .sucesto incorporate. into the block, new cylinders of the same type,'but offering different combinations whereupon the bolt may be -re-mounted by a translation displacement 111 which the same is introduced into slot 48 of block 31 and by rotating anti-clockwise by two turns the rotary cylinder of cylinder lock 36 or the cylinder which has been substituted therefor.

As mentioned above, any number of parallel cylinders, acting upon a common rack provided on the bolt stem may be used within the scope of the invention. For this purpose, corresponding additional teeth should be provided on said rack.

It is to be understood that, further to the above described advantages, the last described embodiment offers the same advantages as the first one, these being still enhanced due to the fact that it is impossible to withdraw the bolt from the lock without possessing the keys of all rotary cylinder locks pertaining to the system. Finally, it may be pointed out that, in spite of the most eilicient safety of the system, the same has a very low cost since the cylinder locks are of conventional and standard type and since they may be mounted and replaced almost instantaneously without using any special equipment or tool.

It is to be understood that the invention is in no Way limited to the embodiments described and shown and that many modifications may be made thereto within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a door lock, the combination with a slidable bolt comprising a stem provided with lengthwise spaced teeth each having a concave arcuate end surface, of a xed cylindrical casing having its axis right-angled With that of said stem, a rotatable bolt actuating member coaxial with said casing and carrying a bolt driving member off-set with respect to the axis of said bolt actuating member and adapted to drivingly engage the spaces between said teeth upon rotation of said bolt actuating member to thereby shift said bolt longitudinally over a predetermined distance into its door unlocking or locking positions, a bolt locking member coaxial and rotatable with said actuating member and comprising a at circumferential portion adapted to allow said longitudinal shift of the bolt as said driving member engages either one of said spaces and a cylindrical circumferential portion adapted to lockingly engage said end surface of the teeth as said driving member disengages from said spaces, and control means associated with said casing to rotate said actuating member relative thereto.

2. In a door lock, the combination with a slidable bolt comprising a stem provided with lengthwise spaced teeth each having a concave arcuate end surface, of two coaxial cylindrical casings disposed one on either side of said stem so that the common axis of said casings is rightangled with that of the stem, a rotatable bolt operating member positioned between and coaxially with said ,cas ings, said bolt operating member being provided with a bolt driving member off-set with respect to the axis of said operating member so as to engage the spaces between said teeth upon rotation of said operating member to thereby shift said bolt over a predetermined distance into door unlocking or locking positions, a bolt locking member coaxial and rotatable with said operating member, said locking member comprising a at circumferential portion adapted to allow said shift of the bolt as said driving member engages either one of said spaces and a cylindrical circumferential portion adapted to lockingly engage either one of said end surfaces of the teeth as said driving member disengages from one of said spaces, key actuated means mounted in at least one of said casings and operatively connected to said bolt operating member to transmit rotary motion from said key actuated means to said operating member, and a lateral arm interconnecting said casings and extending spaced from the casings in a direction substantially parallel to the common axis thereof, said stem being slidably engaged without external clearance between said arm and said bolt operating member.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 153,415 Winn July 2l, 1874 504,292 Badoni Aug. 29, 1893 837,946 McCleary Dec. 11, 1906 1,430,176 Miller Sept. 26, 1922 2,468,406 Mora Apr. 26, 1949 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 724,868 France Feb. 5, 1932 855,898 France Feb. 26, 1940 

